Consumer Guide spent over 4,800 miles behind the wheel of the 2009 Mercury Mariner.
| TEST COMPLETE |
Our extended-use-test model was a top-line Mariner Premier with all-wheel drive. It had a 171-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain replaced the previous 153-horsepower 2.3-liter 4-cylinder and 4-speed automatic.
The updated engine/transmission combination provided V6-like thrust. The new 6-speed transmission was especially smooth and responsive. Our measured fuel economy of 23.2 mpg included mostly highway travel, and thus, was in line with the EPA's 25-mpg highway estimate.
Though Mariner was roomy and comfortable, it felt dated compared with other recently redesigned compact crossovers. The engine in particular was loud and unrefined. Interior materials were similarly unimpressive, with lots of cut-rate, hard plastic trim. Our test example also had some fit and finish issues, including a misaligned door panel. It would be easier to overlook such problems on an economy car, but our Mariner had a sticker price greater than $30,000.
Despite its shortcomings, Mariner was not without its charms. The 4-cylinder powertrain worked very well, and it was comfortable for the many road trips we took in it. Inevitable dealer discounts and judicious option selection could make it a reasonable value, too.
| The Vehicle |
| Bodystyle: 4-door wagon |
| Model: AWD Premier |
| Engine: 171-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Transmission: 6-speed automatic |
| Base Price: $25,790 |
| Major Options: Heated front seats and mirrors, sunroof, Sync, navigation system |
| Price As Tested: $31,005 |
| Total Measured Miles: 4,802 |
| Consumer Guide Observed Fuel Economy: 23.2 mpg |
| Problems During Test: None |
| Editors' Comments |
| Tom Appel: With all due respect to Dick Van Patten, eight is too many. And in the case of Mariner--and kissing cousin Ford Escape--six is plenty, but four is enough. I'm talking cylinders, and with a new, more-potent base 4-cylinder engine in place, choosing the V6 for Mercury's compact SUV is no longer the clear choice. Paired with the new 6-speed automatic, the new four moves Mariner with better than adequate verve, and is reasonably thrifty in the process. Sadly, like many Ford engines, this four banger is more than a little unruly, with an idle that is felt throughout the cabin and a coarse soundtrack that never goes away, even on the highway. I'd be hard pressed to recommend Mariner over Honda's excellent CR-V, but some may find its combination of fuel thrift, upscale pretension, and well-cushioned ride appealing. If you were thinking about putting Mariner on your shopping list, you probably should. |
| Damon Bell: Despite several worthwhile incremental improvements, the 2009 Mariner's basic design feels dated compared to its competition. In 4-cylinder form, it's adequately powerful (helped in part by an alert, new 6-speed transmission) but also very noisy. The vehicle is not without its charms, however. The "EasyFuel" capless fuel filler is neat, and the optional navigation system is intuitive and easy to use. |
| John Biel: Closer to its base sticker price, the Mariner Premier seems like a decent value. But optioned up to $31K, it doesn't seem so good of a deal, particularly with a less-than-refined engine razzing away under the hood. Depending on a shopper's needs, one of the car-based crossovers might be a useful alternative to a FWD Mariner. |
| Rick Cotta: The new 4-cylinder/6-speed automatic powertrain is perfectly acceptable in an SUV that's surprisingly pleasant. Aside from some niggling complaints, there's nothing here that stands out as an obvious negative--a selling point in itself--and features such as the separate-opening tailgate glass are handy and increasingly rare in this class. |
| Jennifer Geiger: Mariner feels unrefined in the build quality and powertrain departments compared to class rivals like Saturn Vue and Honda CR-V. Our $31,000 test Mariner's decent interior, passable powertrain (fine power, but too loud), and ample cargo and small items storage space make it an OK SUV. But in this crowded compact SUV class, you can buy a lot more than just OK for similar money. |
Ford's Sync vehicle entertainment and communication system (top) and EasyFuel capless fuel system (bottom) are two features that make Mariner (and its Escape sibling) unique in the compact SUV class.
